Iffy for 16+
Angels battle for mankind in violent, bloody thriller.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Legion is extremely violent and follows a negative, apocalyptic plotline in which God has given up on mankind and sends an army of avenging angels to wipe out most humans. There's no end of blood, dead bodies, and strong language (including "s--t" and "f--k"), which makes it iffy for everyone except adults and older teens. Ultimately the movie celebrates empathy and selflessness as the saving graces of the human race, but these things come packaged with a large quantity of brutality.
- Families can talk about the film's premise. How does its more religion-centric take on an apocalyptic future compare to other movies about the destruction of humanity?
- What's the impact of violent scenes like the ones in this movie? How does their fantasy nature affect that impact?
- Which of the movie's characters can be considered positive role models? Why?
The good stuff
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Messages: The movie's overall plot/tone is negative, but it moves toward a kernel of optimism. The story is based on the idea that God has given up on mankind and has sent an army of avenging angels to possess the bodies of the weak and destroy everyone else. But the angel who was supposed to be in charge of the mission decided to disobey because of his enduring faith in humankind. He finds good and selfless things about some humans, especially their ability to give when others are in need.
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Role models: It's hard to call Michael a good role model, since he's sullen and violent and sometimes cruel to the humans he's trying to protect. But in one scene he proclaims his faith in the human race by praising the selfless actions of "Jeep" Hanson, who is ultimately a stronger role model than Michael -- he too has his moments of weakness, but the movie gives him enough wiggle room that he emerges as a hero.
What to watch for
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Violence: Heavy fantasy violence throughout, including fighting, guns and knives, bullet wounds, slices and dices, car crashes, and many dead bodies (including the bodies of possessed, zombie-like creatures). In one scene, an angel slices off his own wings and stitches up the bloody wounds. A possessed old lady bites a man's neck; she's hit in the head with a frying pan and eventually shot. A swarm of bugs attacks. Other disturbing imagery includes a man hanging on an upside-down cross with pulsing boils all over his body. He explodes and sends lethal acid flying. "Zombie" children are the victims of violence, and one zombie wields a knife and tries to attack a pregnant woman.
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Sex: Not really an issue, except for the teenage character Audrey, who wears a skimpy, revealing outfit throughout the movie. There's also a brief discussion about abortion.
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Language: Many uses of "f--k" and "s--t" in all their permutations, plus "c--t," "hell," "damn," "goddamn," "bitch," and "oh my God." Multiple uses of "God," both as exclamations and within discussion of the movie's themes.
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Consumerism: Characters drink Busch beer in a handful of scenes, but it's never mentioned by name.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Bob drinks beer in several scenes, presumably as a way to cope with his ordeal. He also offers a beer to a woman who has suffered a loss. Many characters smoke cigarettes, including a pregnant woman (though other characters scold her for it).
Fan Reviews provided by
5
This is an Awesome movie!! by Virdie
I have to say that this movie was a little bit different then I expected, but it was fantastic. Definetly a keeper. You have Arch-Angels, possesions, gun fights and of course creepy old ladies. This is a must see on the big screen and a definate purchase. I think this movie would have been creepier in 3D, but was perfect as is. I won't fill this review with spoilers, but if you like action movies with a decent plot and a dash of creepiness thrown in then this is definetly a must see for you.
1
Two thumbs WAY down....and then some. by JMcP8884
(SPOILER ALERT!!) This movie was awful. I wasn't expecting a "B" movie with demon-zombie creatures that go around biting a stalking the people of a small diner. This movie makes it seem like this diner is the only place on earth that the Apocalypse is happening. It made no outside references to the rest of the world, what-so-ever. It barely touched on anything to do with the actual Biblical Apocalypse. They showed one plague (a bunch of flies) and then never showed it again. Instead, you see demon zombies drunkly driving their cars to this diner, just to crowd around it until they are shot. That was the whole premises of this movie. It did have one "heaven" scene, that looked more like a locker room than anything. Then at the end you get a human trying to kill an Angel (Such sacrilege!) and Angel Michael saying that he needed to defy God to save humanity. So, basically, their version of God's Apocalypse is God sending demon-zombies to the world, and two Angels beating each other up. ?
2
Friends Don't Let Friends See Legion. by RonBergendy69
I have an idea! lets make a movie about god getting mad at everyone so he'll send down a whole bunch of angels to exterminate everyone! but we'll have this one angel, who doesnt agree with god, so he'll just be like "heck no god, i'm gonna go make sure this one baby gets born and save everyone down on earth!" So he'll go down on earth and get a bunch of guns and weapons and go to this dinner in the desert because this one skank's baby is the one hope the world has of survival. but then a whole bunch of those other angels are gonna be like "Hey dude, god's piiissseedd off at you now man" and they'll start taking over the bodies of humans and try to kill everyone, so then the angel and his earth buddies will just start mowing them down with their big guns and stuff, and then we'll get that one guy from Wimbleton to be the cool angel, and that rapper tyrese, and the QB from friday night lights, and dennis quaid! And the Oscar goes to....
Don't see this movie. seriously.
2
Big Steaming Pile of Legion... by MGmirkin
Few movies have made me consider asking for my money back (Witches of Eastwick & Event Horizon come to mind)... Legion was one of them.
It consistently fails to deliver on every promise it makes during the course of its narrative.
Hordes of flying angels? Nope, only in a very brief flashback...
Climactic battle between good & evil? Nope, fisticuffs with an angel throwing a hissy fit. More like a bad episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The setting was ridiculous. The plot was nearly non-existent.
Character development? Nope. We don't know any more about them at the end than we did at the beginning.
There was no payoff. No battle royale. The movie just comes to a simpering "The End" that resolves absolutely nothing and explains absolutely nothing.
This movie was a mess from start to finish. It had potential, but completely squandered it. Avoid this and go see Avatar for the 3rd time!
1
Show Me Your Teeth...OMG, They're Rotten! by Jackonline
I had high hopes for Legion; the trailer for the movie is awesome! The only thing about Legion that is worth watching is the trailer. Seriously, you DO NOT need to waste your money or your time on this film...it's a JOKE! The best parts of the movie can be seen in the trailer and the scenes are almost exactly the same length as what you see in the trailers. The actors are lost in this film because they had a terrible screenplay (script) to work with...this movie was written by children...dialog is laughable, the message is hokey. There is very little action, most of the scenes are long and drawn out. Seriously, the trailer gives away everything...there is little left to surprise you. I found the movie to be comedic, not scary. It makes no sense and it goes nowhere...stay home and listen to Lady GaGa, at least she brings something creative and visual to the table...how this movie ever got made is beyond me. The actors must have all be drunk when they read the screenplay...waste of time!
4
Not really typical... by misswings2488
The trailer depicts Legion as a typical religious end-of-the-world movie, I was surprised at how standard it isn?t ? mostly. Also, the previews don?t give a lot of insight into what?s going to happen.The characters in the film are well-written, fully developed and complex creatures. Kate Walsh?s character Sandra is detestable, selfish and vindictive ? which makes her character the most hated, and her performance the best. Despite having a difficult character to play as well, Paul Bettany does a great job portraying Michael. For a diner in the middle of the desert, the set is more complicated than expected. The diner is the perfect setup for a lot of attacks, and a last stand for humanity. Most of the action scenes in this movie are, thankfully, not the overused kind. It was an extremely enjoyable experience, jam-packed with plenty of twists and turns and surprising moments.
2
Anyone read the bible anymore? by PinkMovie
If you have read the bible lately you'll know that nothing in this movie makes sense and it's more comedic than intended. If God "lost faith" in humanity and wanted to kill us all He wouldn't need angels and we couldn't kill those angels with guns.
4
it was entertaining, but stupid concept, storyline, goes against God religious beliefs by jenn998
it was entertaining--had action, was different...seemed like comedy as people were laughing thruout the film...at the cheesy dialogue, characters etc...it's about an angel, who turns againt God's plan to destroy humanity and believes there is 'hope' and his behavior seems more 'humane' than God's and it portrays God as losing hope and having wrath and vengeance against humanity--utterly stupid and going against God. Stereotypical, white male angels and why? The two black people get killed instantaneously... a stupid storyline as how can an angel turn against God..and God not defeat it but have other angels portrayed as evil humans turned zombies fighting against it? The plot was so stupid as theyre trying to save this girl's baby, and why hers..an apocalyptic semi zombie movie btu the zombies were supposedly 'angels'. bad storyline, just stupid cheesy, fake, but entertaining enough and humorous too...
3
Legion by partsgirl
I would have preferred more of a biblical pretense to set up the pretense of the movie. a little too much sci-fi for me. And "momma" climbing that mountain in her condition? Just a tad bit over the top too fantasy~
5
People its not that hard to understand! by Stevelett
I don't understand why people don't get it. If you haven't watched it yet then don't read this. God is tired of the way we live our lives so he sets into motion a plan to send us a sort of Moses to lead us out of the desert. He then becomes so inraged that he wants to scrap the plan and wipe us out! Micheal knowing gods truest desires better than anyone else desides to save us with the hope of restoring gods faith in humanity!